This is another example of how the wool is pulled over our eyes by
our government.
All those road-pricing schemes we have read about
are NOT the brainchild of a minister here but come from the
are NOT the brainchild of a minister here but come from the
EU and we are expected to comply.
If we don't, EU lorries can travel our roads for free while our
lorries on the continent have to pay tolls!
But nobody here will take any notice and DO anything. I don't think
our press has noticed,
Christina
========================
IRISH TIMES 12.3.09
Irish hauliers to face higher EU tolls
SEÁN Mac CONNELL in Strasbourg
IRISH LORRIES travelling across Europe will be subjected to higher
tolls from 2011 because of a decision of the European Parliament
yesterday to support commission plans to increase tolls to control
pollution and congestion.
The so-called Eurovignette report was opposed by Irish MEPs from all
parties because they said it discriminated against countries like
Ireland which transport most of its exports by road to Europe.
The new regulations, however, will see them charged for noise
pollution, CO2 emissions, and infrastructure use on large sections of
roadway throughout the EU with the least efficient trucks being
tolled 12 cent per km travelled for CO2 emissions.
It has also proposed roads which already do not carry a levy should
now be levied if they customarily carry a significant volume of
international goods transport and the new rules would apply from 2011
to trucks over 12 tonnes and to those over 3.5 tonnes from 2012.
The European Commission, which will now move to implement the new
regulations, had said cities should have the right to impose local
charges on their roads even though the parliament rejected a general
congestion tax.
Speaking after the vote, Jim Higgins (FG) said unless Ireland became
more efficient and innovative freight costs would continue to rise
thus reducing Ireland's competitiveness.
"The report has been controversial from the start. Ireland has had
difficulty with areas such as the proposed legal base, inclusion of
congestion charges, the type of roads to be included and the use of
electronic tolling," he said
Seán Ó Neachtain (FF), a member of the transport committee, said he
did not support the report because it sought to penalise countries
situated on the periphery of Europe and this policy simply flew in
the face of EU internal market principles.
"It is both disproportionate and unjust and it is rightly being
opposed by Irish hauliers and by a number of EU member states," he said
But nobody here will take any notice and DO anything. I don't think
our press has noticed,
Christina
========================
IRISH TIMES 12.3.09
Irish hauliers to face higher EU tolls
SEÁN Mac CONNELL in Strasbourg
IRISH LORRIES travelling across Europe will be subjected to higher
tolls from 2011 because of a decision of the European Parliament
yesterday to support commission plans to increase tolls to control
pollution and congestion.
The so-called Eurovignette report was opposed by Irish MEPs from all
parties because they said it discriminated against countries like
Ireland which transport most of its exports by road to Europe.
The new regulations, however, will see them charged for noise
pollution, CO2 emissions, and infrastructure use on large sections of
roadway throughout the EU with the least efficient trucks being
tolled 12 cent per km travelled for CO2 emissions.
It has also proposed roads which already do not carry a levy should
now be levied if they customarily carry a significant volume of
international goods transport and the new rules would apply from 2011
to trucks over 12 tonnes and to those over 3.5 tonnes from 2012.
The European Commission, which will now move to implement the new
regulations, had said cities should have the right to impose local
charges on their roads even though the parliament rejected a general
congestion tax.
Speaking after the vote, Jim Higgins (FG) said unless Ireland became
more efficient and innovative freight costs would continue to rise
thus reducing Ireland's competitiveness.
"The report has been controversial from the start. Ireland has had
difficulty with areas such as the proposed legal base, inclusion of
congestion charges, the type of roads to be included and the use of
electronic tolling," he said
Seán Ó Neachtain (FF), a member of the transport committee, said he
did not support the report because it sought to penalise countries
situated on the periphery of Europe and this policy simply flew in
the face of EU internal market principles.
"It is both disproportionate and unjust and it is rightly being
opposed by Irish hauliers and by a number of EU member states," he said
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